Sports Diplomacy Quotes

What we have to do is to find a solution that the interests of the national teams are respecting the interests of the clubs. And also the clubs they shall respect the interests and the aspirations of national teams.

Seoul will co-operate with the national government so that the 2032 Summer Olympics become something more than a sports festival - an opportunity to change the fate of the Korean Peninsula.

I've played matches in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The people of North America have always welcomed me.

Unfortunately the world is what it is now. People don't get along for whatever reason. As professional athletes, in a way we're almost ambassadors for peace, because sports brings everyone together.

When we get to the third and fourth generation immigrant families and beyond there will be more England supporters among them, maybe even the majority. I have had British Asians tell me they support England because of me or Adil Rashid and that's great to hear.

The Republic-of-China - back in the Olympic Games for the first time

It's super cool - I have this link to Korea, and with the Olympics, I have this opportunity to represent the U.S., Korea, and my family.

I went to see President Nixon at the White House. It wasn't difficult to get a meeting because I was heavyweight champion of the world. So I came to Washington and walked around the garden with Nixon, his wife and daughter. I said: I want you to give Ali his licence back. I want to beat him up for you.

We've got teams and other countries have teams. Right now, we are going to their countries; we're finding the best athletes; we're bringing them to our team. We're training them, we're making them awesome, and sending them back to beat us. We've got to stop that.

There was a lot of politics going on, and Ireland were denied an Olympic gold medal in 2008.

I'd love to go and visit Pakistan. It would be a great opportunity to go and play there personally. Unfortunately, it's not my decision to make, but it looks a wonderful country to go and play cricket in.

I've never thought of the Olympics as a political statement. I really think a boycott ... is in the wrong as far as the athletes are concerned.

The Olympics is a time primarily for sport and celebration, but diplomacy does not stop at the door of the U.N., and for it to work, it must be sustained and consistent.

I was never invited to the White House. They invited that Olympic Russian gymnast - that little Communist, Olga Korbut.

I think the Olympics could help us reach more people.

I've traveled enough around the world with the NBA to see how much it's grown, globally.

The image of a country is not just about economic and military strength. The soft face of a country also makes a difference. Sports are one such soft power which can capture the world's attention to India.

The symbolic significance of individual athletes' achievements has sometimes proved more productive than the negotiations of diplomats or politicians.

I think football in general globally has a unique way of uniting people instead of dividing people.

I am the Olympic Ambassador. I always promote Olympics. I just want to say, Olympics is Olympics. [You] cannot mix with politics. Olympics for me is love, peace, [being] united.

I've always been a big thinker that the more international competition that we create through sports the better relationships we'll have with countries.

We did the World Cup to relaunch our international efforts, and that served as a foundation.

Soccer, metaphor for war, at times turns into real war.

We will work as if the PyeongChang Olympics is jointly hosted by Gangwon Province and Seoul.

Politicians should talk about sportspersons and sports, and it should surely be in the agenda when they go out asking for votes.